Social Justice Origin Stories

*This episode comes with a content warning for discussions about sexual and physical violence which may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. If you need support, Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE and https://hotline.rainn.org/online . T...

From her early experiences watching the women in her family to discovering the writings of James Baldwin through his book 'Another Country' and the awakening that followed and the emotional impact of hearing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Mountaintop speech, Leticia Peguero shares significant moments and influences that shaped her journey into social justice work. Her storytelling of how she "f...

Dr. Monique Alicia Gamble, a Southerner, a Black queer woman, a digital storyteller, and an assistant professor of political science at a public HBCU in Washington, D.C., shares the significance of storytelling in her academic and creative work, focusing on elevating the stories of people who exist on the margins, particularly those of Black queer women. Reflecting on pivotal moments in her develo...

DEI Practitioner, Health Equity advocate, Educator, and lover of STEM Courtney Holland shares how her experiences spending Saturdays at a union hall for auto workers with her father in Detroit and her academic and cultural awakening after taking an Introduction to African American Studies as an undergraduate student laid the foundation for her current understanding of equity issues and her commitm...

In this episode, Relando is joined by longtime friend, Dr. O'Juan Edwards, who, in describing his journey to complete his Ph. D, shares a heartfelt memory of how a chance meeting with Coretta Scott King profoundly influenced his social justice journey. In his storytelling, Dr. Edwards weaves connections to how her life and the legacy of the King family continue to inspire and inform his approach t...

Barre Jones did not always have an understanding of systemic injustice. In this episode, Barre shares how his moments of activation were sparked during his time in the military, where he felt like he was on the wrong side of the ropes after being sent into Baltimore during the uprising after the murder of Freddie Gray. From his upbringing in Baltimore, Maryland, to his military service and experie...

Dr. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington, talks about the origins of her non-linear path to Social Work and her dedication to social justice, shaped by her personal experiences as a transracial and transnational adoptee from Korea. She describes how becoming a parent herself, meeting other Korean adoptees, traveling to Korea, and start...

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando talks with kyle lim, a passionate racial justice advocate and community organizer. Originally from Singapore, kyle shares some of his experiences navigating complex racial identities and confronting systemic inequities in the U.S., particularly in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his storytelling about the education justice work at the Urban Core...

Jouapag Lee, a passionate advocate for social justice, healing, and liberation, shares her personal journey and motivations. She reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped her activism, including a deeply personal incident of racial and gender-based harassment in college that drastically shifted her worldview and led her into activism and organizing for better campus conditions for marginalized s...

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando is joined by Tony Nelson, who explores his development from his rural Michigan upbringing to becoming an active participant in progressive movements and education. Tony revisits the significance of his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, recalling how attending a campus presentation by Jane Elliott served as a...

Relando sits down with Surabhi Pandit, Macro Social Worker, equity advocate, and personal friend, to discuss the powerful role leveraging her networks in student government to organize dialogues on race and equity at The University of Michigan School of Social Work had on her journey. They reflect on their shared experiences in grad school, including the catalytic moments that led to the creation...

This episode of Social Justice Origin Stories features Kyahdric Moses. Moses, a design activist who identifies as a citizen designer, shares his personal journey toward understanding his intersecting identities and his commitment to social good through design. Kyahdric discusses the power of storytelling, intersecting identities, and the significance of design in addressing social inequities. He s...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of 'Social Justice Origin Stories,' Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury explores the personal experiences and pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to equity and social justice. As a former Detroit public school teacher and now a professor at Grand Valley State University, Dr. Bailey-Fakhoury remembers the lessons learned from her grandmother, the challenges fa...

Dr. Amber Banks shares her personal journey into activism and social justice work. She speaks on the complexities of trust, how personal and cultural experiences shape trust, and the intersection of trust with race and power. Dr. Banks discusses the importance of creating spaces where individuals can feel seen and heard and stresses the critical nature of repair in the trust-building process. Her...

Learn more about Relando's founding beliefs, assumptions, and aspirations that inform his work with Social Justice Origin Stories. Relando also explains the project structure in more detail including the storytelling perspectives of personal journeys, organizational histories, educational segments, and community voices. Consider this an orientation to get acclimated, as well as an invitation to co...

Social Justice Origin Stories is a storytelling project that highlights personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice. Through truth-telling: the honest sharing of their experiences, storytellers teach us about themselves, enabling us to learn about ourselves and our world through their stories. By reconnecting with pi...